- May 5, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
John Paul, 53, was charged with firing a deadly missile into an occupied dwelling, among others.
BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER
Residents along Starlight Drive were told by law enforcement to remain in their homes Monday evening, and that a man was reportedly shooting something from his residence.
John Paul, 53, of 7 Starlight Drive, was arrested and charged with throwing a deadly missile into an occupied dwelling, criminal mischief and resisting an officer without violence.
The incident began at approximately 3:30 p.m. Monday, said Brandon Haught, of the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, when Ronald Steiner, of 4 Starlight Drive, called dispatch to report that Paul had shot something at his home and was driving over his lawn.
As the first deputy on scene and approached Paul’s home, he saw the door “being flung open,” according to the report, and saw Paul’s head and shoulders emerge from the doorway with an unknown object, which was later determined to be “a Daisy manufactured ‘Powerline’ model high-performance slingshot.”
The deputy heard a popping sound and then an unknown object strike Steiner’s home. The deputy reported hearing glass break.
The deputy drew his weapon and ordered Paul to exit the residence, but he ignored the order and went back into the home. The deputy then took cover and notified dispatch.
Multiple units responded to the scene, including SWAT and K-9, and a perimeter was set up around the home. Area residents were ordered to stay in their home and law enforcement attempted to verbally contact Paul for approximately an hour.
Finally, law enforcement contacted Paul via telephone and he exited the home and was taken into custody. The home was checked for additional suspects, and according to the report, none were located.
The first deputy on scene contacted Steiner before approaching Paul’s home, did a quick check for damage but didn’t find any. However, a further inspection revealed the “exterior pane of the double-pane window” of the door had been shattered by an object, which was later identified as a metal ball.
Law enforcement reported the metal balls were consistent with the slingshot ammunition found in Paul’s home.
Paul told authorities he didn’t know why law enforcement was called to his home, according to the report, but said he and Steiner have had a civil dispute for several years. Earlier in the day, Paul said Steiner blocked his way on the road, forcing him to drive onto the lawn.
Paul told law enforcement he retaliated by shooting the slingshot at Steiner’s home and that he didn’t see the deputy present when he shot the last object.
He was held on $5,500 bond and released from the Volusia County Branch Jail May 28.
In 2002, Paul was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery after an incident on the first block of Starlight Drive.
